Door-actuated deodorizer

ABSTRACT

A door-actuated deodorizer having a hanger bracket removably hooked over the upper edge of a door, and a vertical guide secured to the bracket on the inner face of the door. Moreover, a toggle arrangement is supported by the guide and a toggle actuator is disposed so that a sliding bar thereof projects outwardly beyond an outside face of the door, the bar having an outer end located to abut against a stop strip of the door frame as the door is closed, thereby causing a reciprocating plunger on the toggle arrangement to be moved so as to depress an atomizer spray head on a can of disinfectant that is supported by the guide, causing disinfectant to be sprayed into the room.

United States Patent Inventors Jackson E. Brown 198 42nd Ave., San Mateo, Calif. 94403; Harvey G. Thomas, 1709 Berkeley Way,

Berkeley, Calif. 94703 Appl. No 15,414 Filed Mar. 2, 1970 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 DOOR-ACTUATED DEODORIZER 3,273,756 9/1966 Levy et al. 222/180 3,318,489 5/1967 Graves 222/180 3,390,817 7/1968 Heropoulos....... 222/180 Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, .lr, Attorney-Joseph F. Cole ABSTRACT: A door-actuated deodorizer having a hanger bracket removably hooked over the upper edge of a door, and a vertical guide secured to the bracket on the inner face of the door, Moreover, a toggle arrangement is supported by the guide and a toggle actuator is disposed so that a sliding bar thereof projects outwardly beyond an outside face of the door, the bar having an outer end located to abut against a stop strip of the door frame as the door is closed, thereby causing a reciprocating plunger on the toggle arrangement to be moved o as o depress an atomizer spray head on a can of disinfectant that is supported by the guide, causing disinfectant to be sprayed into the room.

PATENTEUSEP28 I971 INVENTORS N E- BROWN EYGJ'HOMAS l l a hu I JACKSO HARV BY 5 ATTORNEY nooR-Ac'ruArEn DEODORIZER SUMMARY An object of this invention is to provide a door-actuated deodorizer that may be readily attached to a door by merely hooking a hanger bracket over the upper edge of the door, and the entire unit may be removed by lifting the bracket from the door. A can, or the like, containing spray disinfectant is supported by a vertical guide secured to the bracket, and a spray head on the can is aligned and contacts with a reciprocating plunger, the latter being actuated by a toggle arrangement so as to cause a discharge spray of the disinfectant into the room when the door is closed and opened.

Another object of the invention is to provide top and bottom holders on the guide for engaging over upper and lower annular rim beads on the can, respectively, thereby holding the the can in operative position. These holders are made so as to accommodate cans of various heights and different diameters, and still the spray head will contact and be axially aligned with the reciprocating plunger. 7

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features of the invention will be set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of our door-operated deodorizer, the door and door frame being shown by dot-dash lines;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof with the can being omitted;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of FIG. 1, with a cover plate removed and part being in section; and

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

While we have shown only the preferred embodiment of our invention it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM BODIM ENT Referring now to the drawing in detail, we provide a hanger bracket designated generally at A made to be hooked over the upper edge of a door B and being removable therefrom by merely lifting the bracket. Thus the hanger bracket may be readily applied to the door, and changed from one door to another.

The hanger bracket A has a top flange 11 fitting over the upper edge of the door, the bracket further defining a plate 12 and a lip 13 depending from the flange l1 and resting against the inside and outside faces 14 and 15, respectively, of the door B as disclosed in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

It will be noted that a vertical guide C is secured to the plate 12 of the hanger bracket A and extends downwardly therefrom along the inside face 14 of the door. Moreover, a casing D is mounted on the guide C and is provided with a removable cover 16 giving access to the interior of the casing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, a vertical reciprocating plunger 17 is supported by the casing D and projects below the latter.

ln FIGS. 1 and 3, we show a can, or the like, designated at E, containing spray disinfectant F of the type for eliminating odors, killing household germs and preventing mold and mildew-a commercial item. The can is provided with a depressible atomizer spray head 18 and a valve-actuating stem 19 that will discharge a spray 20 into a room when the spray head is depressed. The can E may be a conventional Aerosol container that is pressurized, or the head 18 might actuate a pump to discharge the disinfectant.

The can E is supported by the guide C in the manner hereinafter described in a position with its spray head 18 axially aligned and contacting the plunger 17, whereby the spray 20 will issue from the head when the plunger is depressed.

Upper and lower toggle links 21 and 22 are disposed in the casing D and have their adjacent ends connected by a journal pin 23, the top end of the upper line 21 being swingably anchored by pin 24 to the casing, while the bottom end of the lower link 22 is swingably secured by pin 25 to the plunger 17 (see FIG. 3).

The toggle links 21 and 22 normally occupy the full-line position shown in FIG. 3, with these links being angularly related to one another and disposed on one side of the axis 26 and being movable into angular relation relative to each other on the other side of this axis, as shown by dot-dash lines in this view of the drawings. The lower link 22 is arranged to depress the plunger 17 and thereby dispense the spray 20 of disinfectant from the head 18 as the links cross a vertical plane extending through the axis 26 of the plunger.

It will be observed that a toggle actuator in the form of a sliding bar 27 is connected to the journal pin 23 at the adjacent ends of the links, this bar projecting outwardly and beyond the outside face 15 of the door B when the latter is opened and the links 21 and 22 occupy their normal positions. FIG. 1 shows the door as being partially opened, and arrow 28 indicates movement of the door when the latter is fully closed with respect to the door frame G.

The bar 27 has an outer end 29 located to abut against a stop strip 30 on the door frame as the door is closed, and pushing the bar into a position to depress the plunger 17 and thereby the spray head 18 as the door is moved into fully closed position.

Yielding means in the form of a tension spring 31 is provided for returning the toggle links 21 and 22 to their normal positions and projecting the toggle-actuator bar 27 as the door is opened again.

The sliding bar 27 is disposed in and guided by a slot 32 fashioned in the top flange 11 of the hanger bracket A, as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing. Thus the bar will not be restricted by either the door or the door frame in its sliding movement.

For the purpose of mounting the can E on the guide C, the latter has top and bottom holders H and J, respectively, and these holders engage over upper and lower annular rim beads 33 and 34, respectively, of the can E. The holders H and J are adjustable in the guide C toward and away from one another to as to accommodate cans of various heights and still present the spray head 18 in contact with the reciprocating plunger 17.

In order to clamp the bottom holder J in adjusted position, a clamping bolt 35 is provided, and a tension spring 36 is connected to the top and bottom holder H and J, respectively, so as to yieldingly draw the former toward the latter (see FIG. 2).

Moreover, a plurality of separated fingers 37 and 38 are provided on the top and bottom holders H and J, respectively, with the fingers being disposed at various distances from the guide C, whereby selected fingers may be engaged over the annular rim beads of cans of different diameters ad still the spray head 18 and the reciprocating plunger 17 will be axially aligned with one another, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing.

As shown in FIG. 1, a transport shield K may be removably placed over the can E, this shield being substantially U-shaped in transverse horizontal section, with its wings secured to the plate 12 of the supporting bracket.

We claim:

1. In a door-actuated deodorizer:

a. a hanger bracket hooked over the upper edge of a door and being removable therefrom by merely lifting the bracket;

b. a vertical guide secured to the hanger and extending downwardly therefrom along the inside face of the door;

c. a casing mounted on the guide and having a vertical reciprocating plunger supported thereby, this plunger projecting below the casing;

d. a can, or the like, containing spray disinfectant, the can being provided with a depressible atomizer spray head and a valve-actuating stem that will discharge disinfectant into a room;

e. means carried by the guide and engaging with the can so as to support the latter in a position with its spray head axially aligned and contacting with the plunger, whereby spray will issue from the head when the plunger is depressed; upper and lower toggle links disposed in the casing and having adjacent ends connected by a journal pin, the'top end of the upper link being swingably anchored to the casing, and the bottom end of the lower link being swingably secured to the plunger; g. the toggle links normally being positioned in angular relation with one another on one side of the axis of the plunger an being movable into angular relation of the other side of this axis, and the lower link being arranged to depress the plunger and thereby dispense a spray of disinfectant from the head as the links cross a vertical plane extending through the axis of the plunger;

a toggle-actuator in the form of a sliding bar connected to the journal pin at the adjacent ends of the links this bar projecting outwardly and beyond the outside face of the door when the latter is opened and the links occupy their normal positions;

. the bar having an outer end located to abut against a stop strip on a door frame as the door is closed, and pushing the bar into a position to depress the plunger and thereby the spray head as the door is moved into fully closed position.

2. The door-actuated deodorizer, as set forth in claim 1;

j. and in which yielding means are provided for returning the toggle links to their normal positions and projecting the toggle-actuator bar as the door is opened again.

3. The door-actuated deodorizer, as set forth in claim 1;

j. and in which the hanger bracket has a top flange fitting over the upper edge of the door, the bracket defining a plate and a lip depending from the flange and resting against the inside and outside faces, respectively, of the door, the guide being secured to the plate of the bracket.

4. The door-actuated deodorizer, as set forth in claim 3;

k. and in which the bar of the toggle-actuator is disposed in and guided by a slot fashioned in the top flange of the hanger bracket.

5. The door-actuated deodorizer, as set forth in claim I;

j. and in which the means carried by the guide and engaging with the can so as to support the latter comprises;

1. top and bottom holders engaging over upper and lower annular rim beads of the can, respectively;

2. these holders being adjustable in the guide toward and away from one another so as to accommodate cans various heights and still present the spray head in contact with the reciprocating plunger.

6. The door-actuated deodorizer, as set forth in claim 5;

k. and in which clamping means are provided for securing the bottom holder in adjusted position in the guide;

I. and a tension spring connected to the top and bottom holders so as to yieldingly draw the former toward the latter.

7. The door-actuated deodorizer, as set forth in claim 5;

k. and in which a plurality of separated finger are provided on each of the top and bottom holders, with the fingers being disposed at various distances from the guide, whereby selected fingers may be engaged over the annular rim beads of cans of different diameters and still the spray head and the reciprocating plunger will be axially aligned with one another. 

1. In a door-actuated deodorizer: a. a hanger bracket hooked over the upper edge of a door and being removable therefrom by merely lifting the bracket; b. a vertical guide secured to the hanger and extending downwardly therefrom along the inside face of the door; c. a casing mounted on the guide and having a vertical reciprocating plunger supported thereby, this plunger projecting below the casing; d. a can, or the like, containing spray disinfectant, the can being provided with a depressible atomizer spray head and a valve-actuating stem that will discharge disinfectant into a room; e. means carried by the guide and engaging with the can so as to support the latter in a position with its spray head axially aligned and contacting with the plunger, whereby spray will issue from the head when the plunger is depressed; f. upper and lower toggle links disposed in the casing and having adjacent ends connected by a journal pin, the top end of the upper link being swingably anchored to the casing, and the bottom end of the lower link being swingably secured to the plunger; g. the toggle links normally being positioned in angular relation with one another on one side of the axis of the plunger and being movable into angular relation of the other side of this axis, and the lower link being arranged to depress the plunger and thereby dispense a spray of disinfectant from the head as the links cross a vertical plane extending through the axis of the plunger; h. a toggle-actuator in the form of a sliding bar connected to the journal pin at the adjacent ends of the links, this bar projecting outwardly and beyond the outside face of the door when the latter is opened and the links occupy their normal positions; i. the bar having an outer end located to abut against a stop strip on a door frame as the door is closed, and pushing the bar into a position to depress the plunger and thereby the spray head as the door is moved into fully closed position.
 2. The door-actuated deodorizer, as set forth in claim 1; j. and in which yielding means are provided for returning the toggle links to their normal positions and projecting the toggle-actuator bar as the door is opened again.
 2. these holders being adjustable in the guide toward and away from one another so as to accommodate cans of various heights and still present the spray head in contact with the reciprocating plunger.
 3. The door-actuated deodorizer, as set forth in claim 1; j. and in which the hanger bracket has a top flange fitting over the upper edge of the door, the bracket defining a plate and a lip depending from the flange and resting against the inside and outside faces, respectively, of the door, the guide being secured to the plate of the bracket.
 4. The door-actuated deodorizer, as set forth in claim 3; k. and in which the bar of the toggle-actuator is disposed in and guided by a slot fashioned in the top flange of the hanger bracket.
 5. The door-actuated deodorizer, as set forth in claim 1; j. and in which the means carried by the guide and engaging with the can so as to support the latter comprises:
 6. The door-actuated deodorizer, as set forth in claim 5; k. and in which clamping means are provided for securing the bottom holder in adjusted position in the guide; l. and a tension spring connected to the top and bottom holders so as to yieldingly draw the former toward the latter.
 7. The door-actuated deodorizer, as set forth in claim 5; k. and in which a plurality of separated fingers are provided on each of the top and bottom holders, with the fingers being disposed at various distances from the guide, whereby selected fingers may be engaged over the annular rim beads of cans of different diameters and still the spray head and the reciprocating plunger will be axially aligned with one another. 